Countries

Geography

Fiji Islands

The Republic of the Fiji Islands, in the southern Pacific Ocean, is located approximately 3 100 km north-east of Sydney, Australia, and approximately 5 000 km south-west of Honolulu, Hawaii. It is made up of about 330 islands and about 500 more tiny atolls, islets, and reefs. The islands cover a total land area of 18 270 km2. The island of Viti Levu (Big Fiji) covers about half of Fiji's area (10 429 km2), and Vanua Levu (Big Land) about a third (5 556 km2).

The large islands are of volcanic origin. Mount Tomaniivi, on Viti Levu, is the highest point at 1324 m. A number of the smaller islands are coral formations, rising only a few meters above sea level. Nearly all the islands are surrounded by coral reefs. The major rivers on Viti Levu include the Rewa, Sigatoka, Nadi, and Ba. The Dreketi is the largest river on Vanua Levu.

The climate in Fiji is tropical, but cooling winds make the climate relatively comfortable. Temperatures range from about 16° C to 32° C. December to April, which are also the rainy season, are the hottest months, with daily highs reaching 32° C. The windward (south-eastern) sides of the islands receive as much as 3 330 mm of rain a year, while the leeward northern sides receive about 2 540 mm. Heavy rains and cyclones often occur between November and April.

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.